PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1689, 19 July 1879, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

[By Teiegbaph.l [PBOM OTJB COBEE3POMDBIfTa.I WELLING TON, July 18. There was an attempt to hold a caucus of Government supporters to day, but it failed through the lack of attendance. It is understood that under present circumstances the Governor does not desire to proas his objections to assent to the Loan Bill before the address in reply has been agreed to, and the Government will ask the House to agree to a suspension of Standing Orders so that tho Bill may be passed through all the stages in time for the San Francisco mail. It is stated that tho reason why tho Premier wished to force on the Loan Bill was that dnring the depression in the iron manufacturing districts at Home the Government bordered large supplies of railway material, especially steel rails, for the completion of works authorised by Parliament, and that the contracts for these are to be fulfilled between this and the end of the year. The Ministers openly admit that they are in a minority, their only chance being a dissolution or Sir G Grey's resignation. There are still hopes of the latter ; indeed it was reported to-day that Sir G. Grey had partially agreed to do EO.

It is understood that the Ministry can only count on forty-one members whote votes can be relied npon in an emergency, The Opposition had a meeting this morning, when it was decided that Sir W. Fox should follow the English precedent and move the addition of a clause to the nddress in reply, condemning the Administration and praying the Governor to call other advisers to his counsel.

An intrigue has been going on amongst the Ministerialists to set up a new Ministry under Messrs Ballance or Montgomery, but it is thought that it is not likely to como to anything.

The Ministers are said to be cleaning out their offices with a view to defeat.

The Opposition is estimated to have a majority of fourteen.

For some days past some of Sir George Grey's most favored creatures have been trying to make a Jonah of him : but to-day they have thrown him overboard with the full knowledge that they must immediately follow him, and now admit tho destruction of the "gr;at Liberal party " through his " unhappy leadership ;" so we may soon expect to hear of his retirement to Kawau.

The Lo ?i er House was very dull this afternoon, and the afternoon sitting was soot) over ; but many members were attracted to the Legislative Council, where Colonel Whitmore had been run to earth over the Richmond letter by the Hon. John Hall. His position was not an enviable one, and ho would not have felt flatterr d by the great difference in the manner in which his statements and those of the Hon. John Hall were received by the Conncil. The Speaker could not have been very happy over the letter, but no man understands how to defend himself under circumstances better than Sir Wo, Fitzherbert.